BJP likely to release first list of 100 candidates today evening
New Delhi: In a high-octane political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to reveal its initial list of candidates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The list, comprising approximately 100 names, is anticipated to include heavyweights such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The announcement comes on the heels of marathon overnight deliberations in Delhi, spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi himself. The exhaustive meeting, which commenced at 11 pm on Thursday and concluded at 4 am on Friday, signals the meticulous planning behind the selection process.
While the official list is scheduled for release later in the day, speculation is rife that Prime Minister Modi will once again contest from the BJP stronghold of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Having secured resounding victories in 2014 and 2019, Modi triumphed by 3.7 lakh and nearly 4.8 lakh votes, respectively.
Sources reveal a strategic move by the BJP to announce a significant portion of its candidates well before the official poll dates are disclosed. This calculated approach aims to exert pressure on its primary rival, the Congress-led INDIA bloc, which is still embroiled in seat-sharing negotiations.
Amit Shah, the Home Minister, is rumored to be fielded from Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, a move that underscores the party’s emphasis on strong leadership in key constituencies. Joining the electoral fray, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to contest from Lucknow, while Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia may make a bid for Guna-Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh.
